MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine national football team fell short against Bahrain, 2-1, despite a late game rally in the adversary's home stadium in Manama, Bahrain on Monday, March 30.

The Azkals opened the match with a better posture over their foes, pressuring the ball on several chances but their chances couldn't penetrate the quick responding Bahrain defense.

Striker Phil Younghusband had a better chance to clinch an opener for the Philippines in the 21st minute but the ball was snagged by the gloves of the rival team's goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, after 29 minutes of play, the home team managed to capture the first goal of the contest off a corner courtesy of Faouzi Mubarak.

Bahrain's lead immediately doubled to 2-0 following the score by Mubarak as a shot from a free kick by Abdulla Yaser from a distance left Azkals goalkeeper Roland Muller hanging and found the back of the net.

The Philippine national booters had a much-needed dose of confidence in the 61st minute as Manny Ott connected from outside the box to cut the deficit to just a solitary margin.

Coach Thomas Dooley's men scrambled to keep their offense going as time winded down on the first friendly match of the Azkals for 2015 as Patrick Reichelt found P. Younghusband off a cross but the latter sent in wide in the 84th minute.

Despite several last ditch efforts to notch an equalizer late in the match, the Azkals were left to settle for a 2-1 loss against their host country's national team. – Rappler.com

29 March 2015

MANAMA, Bahrain—Almost a week into their training camp here, the Philippine Azkals are finally getting the hang of the system that coach Thomas Dooley is implementing.

Dooley described the Azkals’ training as “poor” on the first day, before seeing a gradual improvement heading into the friendly with Bahrain Monday night at Bahrain National Stadium.

The new system calls for the Azkals to play with just three players at the backline in a 3-4-3 system on attack that usually becomes a 5-4-1 formation on defense.

Dooley believes the Azkals could keep the ball better and widen their play with this scheme while being more compact defensively.

The Philippines has long been playing with four defenders in 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formations.

“I think we can do something differently and even if it doesn’t work at the beginning, we’re going to stick with it, we’re going to implement it and find the right players to be in those positions,” said Dooley.

Midfielder Jerry Lucena is optimistic that the system will work for the Azkals.

“It’s hard to get out of the comfort zone, but this is the way the coach wants to play and I’m sure everybody is working hard to make it work and make it better,” he said.

The match against Bahrain kicks off at 6:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. in Manila). Bahrain lost to world No. 3 Colombia, 0-6, last Thursday, but Lucena, who was part of the team that held the hosts to a scoreless draw the last time they met in 2012, expects a different game this time.

“Colombia was really good and Bahrain did not have a chance to show how good they are,” said Lucena.

Azkals manager Dan Palami stressed that the performance will be the priority over the result.

“Putting it into context, everything that we’re doing here is for the World Cup qualifiers,” said Palami. “A win will be a good result, but we’re more interested in looking at how we play the system.”

Keeper Neil Etheridge has been ruled out of the game after he sustained a cut at the back of his head following a freak accident during lunch with the Filipino community here Friday.

Roland Muller is available, while Dooley is expected to play Alvaro Silva alongside Juani Guirado and Amani Aguinaldo at the back.

The acquisition of Zuberbuhler gives the Azkals another former World Cup campaigner on the coaching staff as the 44-year-old mentor has played in the sport’s biggest stage, just like head coach Thomas Dooley.

“He is someone who’s played at a high level who knows how important is discipline, how important is preparation to the match and the whole environment about being a professional player,” said Dooley of the key addition to his staff.

Zuberbuhler played for Switzerland in the 2006 World Cup, helping his country reach the quarterfinals. A FIFA goalkeeping course instructor, Zuberbuhler also serves as technical director of Geneva-based club Servette FC, the club that employsAzkals keeper Roland Muller.

It will be the second stint for Zuberbuhler as he was also part of ex-coach Michael Weiss’ staff in the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup.

“It’s great to have two experienced coaches in coach Thomas and coach Zubi,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami. “The combined experience that they have will be a big help to the team as we try to reach our goals this year.”

Neil Etheridge who was teammates with Zuberbuhler at Fulham said the Swiss goalkeeping coach’s presence goes beyond helping them honing their skills while manning the posts.

“He’s very technical,” said Etheridge, who has been ruled out of the clash against Bahrain on Monday after sustaining a cut on his head due to a freak accident.

“He is not just good for the goalkeepers but for the outfield players because he brings a great atmosphere. You look at the experience that we have right now with coach Dooley and coach Zubi, not everyone (in Asia ) has that.”

24 March 2015

Philippine national men’s football team veteran Chris Greatwich announced Tuesday that he won’t be suiting up for the Azkals anytime soon.

Greatwich said he did not join the Azkals training tour in Bahrain this month as he wants to “take a break” from national team duty and spend more time with his family.

“Last week I met with Coach (Thomas) Dooley and told him I would be taking a break from International football for a while,” Greatwich wrote in an Instagram post.

“It has been the greatest privilege to play for Philippines for the past 10 years but for now I like to spend more time with my family, especially my baby Nico.

“Thanks to all the players, staff and fans who’ve supported us over the years and I wish the team the best of luck in the future.”

Greatwich, 31, has seven international goals under his belt, almost all of them memorable as he played hero many times for the Azkals. He was instrumental in the team’s Cinderella run to the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup semifinals in 2010 that catapulted the squad to national consciousness.

The Filipino-English midfielder also scored the winning goal in an epic semifinal win with Maldives in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup last year that brought the Azkals to the tournament final for the first time.

Greatwich is currently playing for Kaya FC in the United Football League.

Fil-German Roland Müller was on bench for his Swiss club Servette yesterday. He is now second choice GK for his club. He is expected to arrive Bahrain tonight.

Colombia NT staying at the same hotel as Azkals. Colombia will be playing Bahrain on March 26

Chris Greatwich statement :

"Many people in the last few days have asked why I have not traveled with the squad to Bahrain this week. Last week I met with Coach Dooley and told him I would be taking a break from International football for a while. It has been the greatest privilege to play for Philippines for the past 10 years but for now I like to spend more time with my family, especially my baby ."

23 March 2015

MANILA, Philippines —Juani Guirado, Patrick Reichelt and Patrick Reicheltwent up against Simone Rota and Balot Doctora in a United Football League match Sunday night. Hours later, they were on the same flight headed for Bahrain.

Such is life with the national team as club affiliations are temporarily set aside for a common goal.

The Azkals left for Manama Monday for a weeklong training camp in preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers in June.

They will know which team they will face in the qualifiers next month when the draw is held in Kuala Lumpur. But coach Thomas Dooley is leaving no stone unturned as far as preparations are concerned.

“We want to be at our best form in June ideally,” said Dooley.

It will mark the first time this year that the Azkals are converging—since the AFF Suzuki Cup last December—as they begin their buildup for the challenges ahead.

Phil Younghusband, the country’s top international scorer, is looking forward to the camp.

“We’re excited, its been awhile and we’ve had a few months off from the national team and be in an environment where we’re away with the team,” said Younghusband. “I hear we got some new talent coming in.”

Defender Alvaro Silva has been called up to join the camp, which ends with a friendly against Bahrain on Monday.

Some Azkals arrived in Manama Monday. They were in awe upon seeing members of World Cup quarterfinalist Colombia, which was staying in the same hotel as the Azkals.

20 March 2015

The Philippines U23 Men’s Football Team will be participating in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship 2016 Qualifiers from March 25 to 31, 2015 to be held at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The team will compete in Group G with DPR Korea, Thailand and Cambodia.

The International Friendly “A” Match between the national teams of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Philippines on 30 Match 2015 will be held at the Bahrain National Stadium in Manama, Bahrain. The stadium has a natural grass pitch and a seating capacity of 35,580. Kick-off will be at 6:30pm Bahrain time (11:30pm Manila time)

The Philippine delegation will be billeted at the Intercontinental Regency Hotel-Bahrain.

17 March 2015

FRESH from what its coach described as a “magnificent performance” in its last game, domestic club Global FC goes for a groundbreaking win in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup when it engages Yadanarbon FC in an away Group G match in Myanmar today.

Holding down powerhouse Malaysian side Pahang FA to a goalless draw in their matchup on March 11, reigning United Football League (UFL) champion Global tries to build on the momentum from said game and win over Yadanarbon in tonight’s match to get back into the thick of things of Asia’s second-level tournament for domestic clubs.

“The People’s Club” slumped to a 6-1 loss in the hands of Hong Kong club South China in its opening AFC Cup group game here at home last month before bouncing back admirably against Pahang.

“The first point and first clean sheet has been brought back to the Philippines,” Global coach Leigh Manson was quoted by the team’s Web site as saying, following his team’s impressive showing in Malaysia.

He went on to underscore how deserving they are to be playing in the AFC Cup, the lone Philippine side to do so this year.

“We deserve to be in the (AFC Cup). We are an Asian team and we can play at that level no question,” Mr. Manson said.

STICKING TO THE GAME PLANThe Global coach said that key to their performance previously was how they stuck to their game plan and executed.

“We made sure we had to be clear with our game plan and the players followed it,” he said.

“That was a magnificent display of players playing in the UFL, of young Filipinos who can play internationally,” continued Mr. Manson, who is in the first year of serving as Global coach.

The team hopes to continue its fine form against Yadanarbon in the latter’s home turf, the Mandalarthiri Stadium in Mandalay, Myanmar.

Yadanarbon remains winless in two games so far, losing to Pahang, 3-2, on Feb. 25 and South China, 3-1, last week.

“We put ourselves in a chance to get back into the tournament. We have to take it one game at a time and that’s what we’ll do,” Mr. Manson said of his thoughts ahead of their game against Yadarnabon.

For collecting two yellow cards against Pahang, Global will miss the services of fiery young defender Amani Aguinaldo for today’s game.

MANILA, Philippines—Stephan Schrock won’t be suiting up for the Philippines when it faces Bahrain on March 30, but coach Thomas Dooley isn’t closing the door on the dynamic midfielder from coming back in the future.

Dooley clarified that Schrock has yet to express his interest in coming back to the team, although the former Bundesliga player has repeatedly said he would welcome a recall to the team.

“First of all, he never asked me about being part of the team,” said Dooley. “Second, he texted me with an apology. I accepted his apology, and I said, yeah everybody makes a mistake. He’s young, so I [accepted] his apology.”

Dooley hinted that it would take more than an apology through a text message for Schrock to make his way back to the team.

“Again, there are things that he has said that’s not true,” said Dooley. “That needs to be corrected, and if that’s corrected, I think there would be a door open.”

Azkals manager Dan Palami is upbeat that the issue will eventually be resolved considering that it is best for the team to have all of its finest players at its disposal.

16 March 2015

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Azkals, bracing for another important tournament, return to action on March 30 when they face Middle East powerhouse Bahrain in an international friendly in Manama.
The match caps the weeklong training camp of the national side as its kicks off preparations for the World Cup Qualifying in June.
Attending the press launch of the Azkals’ mobile service promo, national coach Thomas Dooley has recalled goalkeeper Neil Etheridge after a long absence, while Roland Muller is also expected to return after missing the Suzuki Cup last year due to club commitments.
The mobile service allows fans to get behind-the-scenes content while raising funds for the team, Azkals manager Dan Palami said.
Dooley said he is bringing 23 players to the Bahrain camp, including Jerry Lucena and skipper Rob Gier. Having secured his PH passport, Fil-Spanish defender Alvaro Silva is also joining the trip.
Palami is hopeful that new prospects like Australia-based Iain Ramsay can also make it to Bahrain. Austria-born Stephen Palla and Luke Woodland, who plays for Bolton Wanderers in England, have also expressed interest in joining the squad.
But Dooley has ruled out Mike Ott and striker Javier Patino due to overseas club commitments.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is pleased to announce that it has accepted the invitation of Bahrain Football Association (BFA) through its President, Shaikh Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, for an International Friendly “A” Match between the national teams of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Philippines on 30 March 2015 in Manama, Bahrain.
The friendly match will be the culmination of the week-long training camp of the Men’s Team (Azkals) in Manama. The Philippine delegation will leave for Bahrain on 23 March 2015 and return to Manila on 31 March 2015.
The following players have been called up to compose the Philippine squad:

AGUINALDO, Amani Manuel

DANIELS, Kenshiro Michael

DOCTORA, Ruben Jr.

DEYTO, Patrick Phillip

ETHERIDGE, Neil Leonard

GIER, Robert James

GREATWICH, Simon Clive

GUIRADO, Juan Luis

HARTMANN, Mark Andrew

LUCENA, Jerry Ruben

MULLER, Roland Richard

OTOMO, Satoshi

OTT, Manuel

PORTERIA, Jose Elmer

REICHELT, Patrick

ROTA, Simone

SATO, Daisuke

SILVA, Alvaro

STEUBLE, Martin Markus

VILLANUEVA, Dennis

YOUNGHUSBAND, James Joseph

YOUNGHUSBAND, Philip James

PATIÑO, Javier

Team Manager Dan Stephen Palami will be head of delegation and Head Coach Thomas Dennis Dooley will lead the coaching and technical staff which includes Goalkeeping Coach Pascal Zuberbühler from Switzerland.
PFF House of Football, Pasig City.

14 March 2015

Stallion FC has tweeted that Ruben Doctora Jr and Simone Rota has got callup for Azkals training camp that is planned from March 23 to 31.

Roster for training camp has still not been released.

No news about a friendly on FIFA match days. Previous reports about friendly against Palestine or Myanmar , but stilll no friendly has been confirmed just 8 days before they are leaving for a scheduled training camp in Bahrain.

13 March 2015

MANILA, Philippines—Kaya seeks to sustain its fine form against fellow unbeaten side Ceres-La Salle Saturday night while Manila Jeepney and Pachanga Diliman hope to break into the win column in the United Football League at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Riding high on its 2-0 conquest of defending champion Global last Saturday, Kaya tries to claim another big scalp in the 8:15 p.m. clash with Ceres.

Manila Jeepney and Pachanga square off in the 5:15 p.m. kickoff with both teams seeking to improve on their woeful start this season.

Jeepney dropped a 1-4 decision to Stallion last Tuesday, while Pachanga is coming off a 1-1 draw against Team Socceroo. The two teams only have a point to show from their first five matches.

The spotlight will be in the battle pitting two title contenders in Kaya against Ceres. Dynamic on attack and solid in defense, Kaya has been a revelation this season under coach Adam Reekie. British striker Louis Clark will be a marked man for Kaya after scoring twice against Global.

But Kaya still has plenty of weapons in the likes of OJ Porteria, Joshua Beloya and Chris Greatwich, whose stellar play at midfield has led to plenty of scoring chances.

Former Philippine national men’s football team star Stephan Schrock has already apologized to Azkals coach Thomas Dooley following an ugly rift last year which saw the Filipino-German midfielder leave the squad.
But for Schrock to be called up again, saying sorry isn’t enough, according to Dooley.
“I personally accepted his apology,” Dooley told InterAksyon.com. “To come back to the team there has to be more than just texting, ‘I apologize for what happen.’ There must be the trues and correction.”
Last year, Schrock announced his “resignation” from the national team and declared that he wouldn’t suit up for the Azkals until Dooley is at the helm.
The Filipino-German Schrock joined the squad in 2011 while the American-German Dooley took over as the team’s new coach in 2014.
Schrock’s shocking exit was also followed by the departures of fellow foreign-based stars Dennis Cagara and Neil Etheridge who had also expressed their dislike to Dooley.
The three players were apparently unhappy with the playing time given to them by Dooley who has helped some young players gain more exposure for the Azkals.
Dooley then called the revolt of Azkals players “unacceptable, unprofessional and selfish.” He also blasted Shrock for “being a liar.”
The Azkals are currently preparing for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign in June, with a training tour in Bahrain set this month.

By Karlo SacamosAN idle Philippine men’s football team moved up in the latest International Football Federation rankings released on Thursday. The Azkals have yet to see action this year, but jumped four places up to 128th in a tie with Aruba to remain as the top Southeast Asian team on paper. Vietnam is the second-best Asean team at 130th, while Thailand, the reigning Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup champion, rounded out the Top Three at 142nd. The Filipino booters are preparing for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and were supposed to open the year with a friendly match against China that was canceled. Instead, the Thomas Dooley-mentored side is set to embark on a weeklong training camp in Bahrain at the end of the month with a friendly against Palestine on March 29 still being finalized.Read more at: http://www.spin.ph/football/azkals/news/philippine-azkals-international-football-federation-rankings-football

11 March 2015

PETALING JAYA: The Elephants survived a real scare at home in Kuantan on Wednesday.

First, a gunman fired shots at skipper Mohd Razman Roslan’s home in Kuantan early Wednesday morning.

Then at night, double winners Pahang lived dangerously in the AFC Cup tie when they could only manage a goalless draw against Global FC of the Philippines at the Darul Makmur Stadium.

The Filipinos, thrashed 6-1 by South China FC in their opening Group G match last month, were expected to get a real hiding from the east coast giants.

Instead, they flew home happy with a share of the spoils.

Pahang have only themselves to blame for not taking all three points as coach Zainal Abidin Hassan rested several first team players, including both foreign strikers – Argentine Matias Conti and Nigerian Dickson Nwakaeme. Razman was seated on the terrace serving out a one-match suspension.

The visitors should have had their noses in front had they not squandered a couple of gilt-edged chances in the first half.

Skipper Mark Hartmann was guilty of missing a golden opportunity in the 40th minute. With only Pahang goalkeeper Mohd Khairul Azhan to beat, he ballooned his shot from the top of the box.

The home team were also fortunate not to concede an own goal when Pakistani centreback Zesh Rehman’s clearance hit the woodwork in the fifth minute.

The second half was an open affair with plenty of goal-scoring chances at both ends.

Striker Mohd Fauzi Roslan and nippy winger R. Gopinathan were the culprits for Pahang, who then decided to field top hitman Nwakaeme at the hour mark in place of Azidan Saruddin. Unfortunately, it didn’t make any difference.

10 March 2015

MANILA, Philippines– Is Stephan Schrock primed for an Azkals comeback?

The possibility surfaced recently after the Filipino-German midfielder confirmed he has patched things up with Azkals coach Thomas Dooley following their falling out last year in the aftermath of the AFC Challenge Cup finals loss to Palestine.

Schrock has apologized to Dooley for his actions last year when he announced he isn’t playing for the team as long as the German-American mentor is in charge.

“Playing for the Azkals has never left my mind,” Schrock told the Inquirer Monday night. “I love the country and I always want to play for the Philippines, but it will still be the coach’s decision. It’s okay, everybody needs time.”

The falling out stemmed from Dooley’s decision to limit Schrock’s minutes in the crucial stages of the AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives last year where the midfielder was nursing a hamstring injury.

But just like goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who cleared the air with Dooley last year following his exclusion from the Peace Cup lineup, Schrock also took the initiative to get in touch and make amends.

“I texted coach to let him know I was sorry,” said Schrock, who played 15 games for Greuther Furth in the German second division last season, scoring one goal.

“I’m a player who always wants to win. My intention was right but the manner that I did it was not. He (Dooley) accepted it and that’s it,” added the midfielder who has three international goals for the country.

Azkals manager Dan Palami is upbeat that the development will lead to Schrock’s return to the Philippine side bracing for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers starting in June.

“Of course, Stephan is still one of our most talented players and we have seen that he can really help the team,” said Palami.

The Philippine Football Federation is finalizing a friendly against Palestine in Bahrain on March 29 to cap the Azkals’ weeklong camp in the Middle East country.

09 March 2015

Global FC will field a shorthanded side when they play their AFC Cup Group G match against Pahang FA on Wednesday at the Stadium Darul Makmur in Malaysia.

Global were beaten by Kaya, 0-2, last Saturday and has dampen the mood of the players ahead of their AFC Cup match against the reigning Malaysia Cup champions, Pahang FA.

"I think right at this moment we are at a low, hopefully we get their spirits up" said Manson. "We're very much proud to play for the Philippines (at the club level)."

Global will only field a total of 15 players with skipper Misagh Bahadoran out of the squad due to injury. Defender Amani Aguinaldo and goalkeeper Patrick Deyto will be available but are not in top shape..

"We have good players and see if they have any fitness issues," added Manson. "We'll do our best, we'll be alright."

Known as "The Elephant," Pahang FA is one of Malaysia's biggest football club and has recently defeated Yadanarbon of Myanmar, 3-2 in the AFC Cup. Boasting one of the most, eager supporters, Manson is expecting a pack stadium.